o surprize her secret. However well-founded were these apprehensions,
compassion, and a sincere wish to repair his fault as much as possible
solicited his complying with the prayers of his Suppliant. The
difficulty of colouring Antonia's unexpected return to life, after her
supposed death and public interment, was the only point which kept him
irresolute. He was still pondering on the means of removing this
obstacle, when He heard the sound of feet approaching with
precipitation. The door of the Vault was thrown open, and Matilda
rushed in, evidently much confused and terrified.

On seeing a Stranger enter, Antonia uttered a cry of joy: But her
hopes of receiving succour from him were soon dissipated. The supposed
Novice, without expressing the least surprize at finding a Woman alone
with the Monk, in so strange a place, and at so late an hour, addressed
him thus without losing a moment.

'What is to be done, Ambrosio? We are lost, unless some speedy means
is found of dispelling the Rioters. Ambrosio, the Convent of St. Clare
is on fire; The Prioress has fallen a victim to the fury of the Mob.
Already is the Abbey menaced with a similar fate. Alarmed at the
threats of the People, the Monks seek for you everywhere. They imagine
that your authority alone will suffice to calm this disturbance. No
one knows what is become of you, and your absence creates universal
astonishment and despair. I profited by the confusion, and fled hither
to warn you of the danger.'

'This will soon be remedied,' answered the Abbot; 'I will hasten back
to my Cell: a trivial reason will account for my having been missed.'

'Impossible!' rejoined Matilda: 'The Sepulchre is filled with Archers.
Lorenzo de Medina, with several Officers of the Inquisition, searches
through the Vaults, and pervades every passage. You will be
intercepted in your flight; Your reasons for being at this late hour in
the Sepulchre will be examined; Antonia will be found, and then you are
undone for ever!'

'Lorenzo de Medina? Officers of the Inquisition? What brings them
here? Seek they for me? Am I then suspected? Oh! speak, Matilda!
Answer me, in pity!'

'As yet they do not think of you, but I fear that they will ere long.
Your only chance of escaping their notice rests upon the difficulty of
exploring this Vault. The door is artfully hidden:

Haply it may not be observed, and we may remain concealed till the
search is over.'

'But Antonia ...